Adjusting display format in electronic device

ABSTRACT

A display format adjustment system includes a receiving module, a visual condition determination module, a display format determination module, and a display control module. The receiving module receives content for display in a first display format. The visual condition determination module determines a visual condition of a viewer in front of a display. The display format determination module determines a second display format based on the first display format and the visual condition of the viewer. The display control module displays the content in the second display format on the display.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Relevant subject matter is disclosed in co-pending U.S. patentapplications entitled “ADJUSTING PRINT FORMAT IN ELECTRONIC DEVICE”,Attorney Docket Number US38869, U.S. application Ser. No. ______, Filedon ______, and “ADJUSTING DISPLAY FORMAT IN ELECTRONIC DEVICE”, AttorneyDocket Number US38877, U.S. application Ser. No. ______, Filed on______.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The disclosure generally relates to a system and a method for adjustingdisplay format in an electronic device.

2. Description of Related Art

Generally, a desktop computer or a mobile terminal includes a displayscreen for communicating with a viewer. When the font size and/or imagesize of the content displayed on the display screen is too small, itwill be difficult for the viewer to view the content clearly. A viewermay manually scale down or scale up the text font size and/or the imagesize of the content to achieve an optimum viewing effect. But it'sinconvenient for the viewer to adjust the display format manually.Therefore, there is a need for a technique for automatically adjustingthe size of the content to enable clearer and easier viewing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Many aspects of the embodiments can be better understood with referenceto the following drawings. The components in the drawings are notnecessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed uponclearly illustrating the principles of the embodiments. Moreover, in thedrawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding partsthroughout the several views.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of one embodiment of an electronic devicesuitable for use in implementing a display format adjustment system.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of one embodiment of the function modulesof the display format adjustment system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows an example of a visual acuity test chart.

FIG. 4 is an operational flow diagram representing one embodiment of amethod for adjusting display format using the display format adjustmentsystem of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The disclosure is illustrated by way of example and not by way oflimitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which likereferences indicate similar elements. It should be noted that referencesto “an” or “one” embodiment in this disclosure are not necessarily tothe same embodiment, and such references mean at least one.

In general, the word “module”, as used herein, refers to logic embodiedin hardware or firmware, or to a collection of software instructions,written in a programming language, such as, Java, C, or assembly. One ormore software instructions in the modules may be embedded in firmware,such as in an EPROM. The modules described herein may be implemented aseither software and/or hardware modules and may be stored in any type ofnon-transitory computer-readable medium or other storage device. Somenon-limiting examples of non-transitory computer-readable media includeCDs, DVDs, BLU-RAY, flash memory, and hard disk drives.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of one embodiment of an electronic device10. In one embodiment, the electronic device 10 includes a displayformat adjustment system 100, at least one central processing unit (CPU)110, a storage unit 120, a display 130, and other I/O device(s) 140. Theelectronic device 10 implements the functions of the display formatadjustment system 100. The electronic device 10 can be a general purposecomputing device such as a desktop computer, a tablet computer, apersonal digital assistant (PDA), a smart phone, or the like.

The storage unit 120 may be any form of volatile or non-volatilestorage, including, for example, RAM, ROM, EPROM, flash memory, amagnetic disk such as an internal hard disk or a removable disk, anoptical disk such as a CD-ROM, or any other storage device which can beused to store the desired information and which can be accessed by thedisplay format adjustment system 100. The storage unit 120 may storemachine-executable instructions, data, and various programs, such as anoperating system and one or more application programs, all of which maybe processed by the CPU 110. The display 130 can be a liquid crystaldisplay (LCD) or a cathode-ray tube (CRT) display. The electronic device10 may include one or more I/O devices 140 such as a keyboard, a mouse,a touch pad, or other pointing device. The storage unit 120, the display130 and the other I/O devices 140 are connected to the CPU 110 through asystem bus (not shown in FIG. 1).

FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic diagram of one embodiment of the functionmodules of the display format adjustment system 100. In one embodiment,the display format adjustment system 100 includes a receiving module101, a face recognition module 102, a distance measurement module 103, avisual condition determination module 104, a display formatdetermination module 105, and a display control module 106. Each of themodules 101-106 may be a software program including one or morecomputerized instructions that are stored in the storage unit 120 andexecuted by the CPU 110.

The receiving module 101 may receive content for display in a firstdisplay format. The content may include text and/or images. The firstdisplay format may include text font size information and/or image sizeinformation for defining the appearance and style of the content when itis displayed on the display 130. The text font size may include theheight and the width, such as 18×18 pixels, to define the size of a textfont. The image size may include the height and the width, such as320×480 pixels, to define the size of an image.

The face recognition module 102 may recognize face of a viewer in frontof the display 130. The face recognition module 102 may capture an imageof the viewer using a camera and identify the face of the viewer throughthe captured image.

The distance measurement module 103 is installed in the electronicdevice 10 for measuring a view distance between the face of the viewerand the display 130. The distance measurement module 103 may use avariety of distance detecting technologies such as ultrasonic, infraredand lasers.

The visual condition determination module 104 may determine a visualcondition of the viewer. In one embodiment, the visual conditiondetermination module 104 may receive a visual acuity index input by theviewer. In another embodiment, the visual condition determination module104 may display a visual acuity test chart on the display. Referring toFIG. 3, an example of a visual acuity test chart (a Snellen chart) isillustrated. The Snellen chart is displayed with eleven lines of blockletters. The row with the smallest characters that can be readaccurately indicates the visual acuity of the viewer. The numberidentifying the smallest row can serve as the visual acuity index of theviewer. The visual condition determination module 104 may determine thevisual acuity index by testing the viewer using the visual acuity testchart. According to the determined visual acuity index, the visualcondition determination module 104 may determine a minimal size. Theminimal size is a size of which a visual element smaller than isunrecognizable for the viewer. The minimal size may include a height anda width. For example, the visual condition determination module 104 maydetermine that the visual acuity index of the viewer is “6” and theminimal size for “6” is 18×18 pixels, according to the visual acuityindex.

The display format determination module 105 may determine a seconddisplay format based on the first display format and the visualcondition of the viewer as determined by the visual conditiondetermination module 104. The display format determination module 105may obtain size(s) of the second display format by using an equation asfollows:

$\left\{ {\quad\begin{matrix}{{S_{2} = S_{1}},} & \left( {S_{m\; i\; n} \geq S_{va}} \right) \\{{S_{2} = {S_{1}*\left( {S_{va}/S_{m\; i\; n}} \right)}},} & \left( {S_{m\; i\; n} < S_{va}} \right)\end{matrix}} \right.$

where S₂ represents the size of the second display format, S₁ representsthe size of the first display format, S_(va) represent the minimal sizerelative to the visual acuity index, S_(min) represents the size of thesmallest visual element defined by the first display format.

When the second display format has been determined, the display controlmodule 106 may display the content in the second display format on thedisplay 130.

In one embodiment, the distance measurement module 103 may measure andrecord a first view distance between the face of the viewer and thedisplay 130 when the visual condition determination module 104determines the visual condition of the viewer. When the viewer movesnearer to or farther away from the display 130, the distance measurementmodule 103 may measure and record a second view distance between theface of the viewer and the display 130.

The display format determination module 105 may determine a thirddisplay format based on the second display format and a relation betweenthe first view distance and the second view distance. The display formatdetermination module 105 may obtain size(s) of the third display formatby using an equation as follows:

$\left\{ {\quad\begin{matrix}{{S_{3} = S_{2}},} & \left( {D_{2} < D_{1}} \right) \\{{S_{3} = {S_{2}*\left( {D_{2}/D_{1}} \right)}},} & \left( {D_{2} \geq D_{1}} \right)\end{matrix}} \right.$

where S₃ represents the size of the third display format, S₂ representsthe size of the second display format, D₂ represents the second viewdistance, and D₁ represents the first view distance.

When the third display format has been determined, the display controlmodule 106 may display the content in the third display format on thedisplay 130.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating one embodiment of a method foradjusting display format using the display format adjustment system ofFIG. 1. The method may include the following steps.

In step S401, the receiving module 101 receives content for display in afirst display format.

In step S402, the face recognition module 102 recognizes face of aviewer in front of the display 130.

In step S403, the distance measurement module 103 measures and records afirst view distance between the face of the viewer and the display 130.

In step S404, the visual condition determination module 104 determines avisual condition of the viewer. The visual condition determinationmodule 104 displays a visual acuity test chart on the display 130,determines a visual acuity index for the viewer by testing the viewerusing the visual acuity test chart. According to the determined visualacuity index, the visual condition determination module 104 determines aminimal size. The minimal size is a size of which a visual elementsmaller than is unrecognizable for the viewer.

In step S405, the display format determination module 105 determines asecond display format based on the first display format and the visualcondition of the viewer. The display format determination module 105obtains size(s) of the second display format by using an equation asfollows:

$\left\{ {\quad\begin{matrix}{{S_{2} = S_{1}},} & \left( {S_{m\; i\; n} \geq S_{va}} \right) \\{{S_{2} = {S_{1}*\left( {S_{va}/S_{m\; i\; n}} \right)}},} & \left( {S_{m\; i\; n} < S_{va}} \right)\end{matrix}} \right.$

where S₂ represents the size of the second display format, S₁ representsthe size of the first display format, S_(va) represent the minimal sizerelative to the visual acuity index, and S_(min) represents the size ofthe smallest visual element defined by the first display format.

In step S406, the display control module 106 displays the content in thesecond display format on the display 130.

In step S407, the distance measurement module 103 measures a second viewdistance between the face of the viewer and the display 130.

In step S408, the display format determination module 105 determines athird display format based on the second display format and a relationbetween the first view distance and the second view distance. Thedisplay format determination module 105 obtains size(s) of the thirddisplay format by using an equation as follows:

$\left\{ {\quad\begin{matrix}{{S_{3} = S_{2}},} & \left( {D_{2} < D_{1}} \right) \\{{S_{3} = {S_{2}*\left( {D_{2}/D_{1}} \right)}},} & \left( {D_{2} \geq D_{1}} \right)\end{matrix}} \right.$

where S₃ represents the size of the third display format, S₂ representssize of the second display format, D₂ represents the second viewdistance, and D₁ represents the first view distance.

In step S409, the display control module 106 displays the content in thethird display format on the display 130.

It is to be understood, however, that even though numerouscharacteristics and advantages have been set forth in the foregoingdescription of embodiments, together with details of the structures andfunctions of the embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only andchanges may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, andarrangement of parts within the principles of the disclosure to the fullextent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which theappended claims are expressed.

Depending on the embodiment, certain steps or methods described may beremoved, others may be added, and the sequence of steps may be altered.It is also to be understood that the description and the claims drawnfor or in relation to a method may include some indication in referenceto certain steps. However, any indication used is only to be viewed foridentification purposes and not as a suggestion as to an order for thesteps.

1. A computer-implemented method for adjusting display format in anelectronic device, the method comprising: receiving content for displayin a first display format at the electronic device; determining a visualcondition of a viewer; determining a second display format based on thefirst display format and the visual condition of the viewer; anddisplaying the content in the second display format on a display of theelectronic device.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the display formatscomprise text font size information.
 3. The method of claim 1, whereinthe display formats comprise image size information.
 4. The method ofclaim 1, further comprising measuring a first distance between theviewer and the display before determining the visual condition.
 5. Themethod of claim 4, further comprising: measuring a second distancebetween the viewer and the display after the content has been displayedin the second display format on the display; determining a third displayformat based on the second display format and a relation between thefirst distance and the second distance; and displaying the content inthe third display format on the display.
 6. The method of claim 5,wherein the step of determining the third display format comprisesobtaining size of the third display format by using an equation asfollows: $\left\{ {\quad\begin{matrix}{{S_{3} = S_{2}},} & \left( {D_{2} < D_{1}} \right) \\{{S_{3} = {S_{2}*\left( {D_{2}/D_{1}} \right)}},} & \left( {D_{2} \geq D_{1}} \right)\end{matrix}} \right.$ where S₃ represents the size of the third displayformat, S₂ represents size of the second display format, D₂ representsthe second distance, D₁ represents the first distance.
 7. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the step of determining the visual condition of theviewer comprises: displaying a visual acuity test chart on the display;determining a visual acuity index by testing the viewer using the visualacuity test chart; and determining a minimal size relative to the visualacuity index, wherein the minimal size is a size of which a visualelement smaller than is unrecognizable for the viewer.
 8. The method ofclaim 7, wherein the step of determining the second display formatcomprises obtaining size of the second display format by using anequation as follows: $\left\{ {\quad\begin{matrix}{{S_{2} = S_{1}},} & \left( {S_{m\; i\; n} \geq S_{va}} \right) \\{{S_{2} = {S_{1}*\left( {S_{{va}\;}/S_{m\; i\; n}} \right)}},} & \left( {S_{m\; i\; n} < S_{va}} \right)\end{matrix}} \right.$ where S₂ represents the size of the seconddisplay format, S₁ represents size of the first display format, S_(va)represent the minimal size relative to the visual acuity index, S_(min)represents size of the smallest visual element defined by the firstdisplay format.
 9. The method of claim 1, further comprising recognizingface of the viewer by a camera of the electronic device, wherein thefirst distance and the second distance are measured between the face ofthe viewer and the display.
 10. A system for adjusting display format inan electronic device, the system comprising: a receiving module adaptedto receive content for display in a first display format; a visualcondition determination module adapted to determine a visual conditionof a viewer; a display format determination module adapted to determinea second display format based on the first display format and the visualcondition of the viewer; and a display control module adapted to displaythe content in the second display format on a display of the electronicdevice.
 11. The system of claim 10, wherein the display formats comprisetext font size information.
 12. The system of claim 10, wherein thedisplay formats comprise image size information.
 13. The system of claim10, further comprising a distance measurement module adapted to measurea first distance between the viewer and the display when the visualcondition determination module determines the visual condition.
 14. Thesystem of claim 13, wherein the distance measurement module is furtheradapted to measure a second distance between the viewer and the displayafter the content has been displayed in the second display format on thedisplay, the display format determination module is further adapted todetermine a third display format based on the second display format anda relation between the first distance and the second distance; and thedisplay control module is further adapted to display the content in thethird display format on the display.
 15. The system of claim 14, whereinthe display format determination module is adapted to obtain size of thethird display format by using an equation as follows:$\left\{ {\quad\begin{matrix}{{S_{3} = S_{2}},} & \left( {D_{2} < D_{1}} \right) \\{{S_{3} = {S_{2}*\left( {D_{2}/D_{1}} \right)}},} & \left( {D_{2} \geq D_{1}} \right)\end{matrix}} \right.$ where S₃ represents the size of the third displayformat, S₂ represents size of the second display format, D₂ representsthe second distance, D₁ represents the first distance.
 16. The system ofclaim 10, wherein the visual condition determination module is adaptedto display a visual acuity test chart on the display, determine a visualacuity index by testing the viewer using the visual acuity test chart,and determine a minimal size relative to the visual acuity index, wherethe minimal size is a size of which a visual element smaller than isunrecognizable for the viewer.
 17. The system of claim 16, wherein thesecond display format determination module is adapted to obtain size ofthe second display format by using an equation as follows:$\left\{ {\quad\begin{matrix}{S_{2} = S_{1}} & \left( {S_{m\; i\; n} \geq S_{va}} \right) \\{{S_{2} = {S_{1}*\left( {S_{va}/S_{m\; i\; n}} \right)}},} & \left( {S_{m\; i\; n} < S_{va}} \right)\end{matrix}} \right.$ where S₂ represents the size of the seconddisplay format, S₁ represents size of the first display format, S_(va)represent the minimal size relative to the visual acuity index, S_(min)represents size of the smallest visual element defined by the firstdisplay format.
 18. The system of claim 10, further comprising a facerecognition module adapted to recognize face of the viewer by a cameraof the electronic device, wherein the distance measurement module isadapted to measure distance between the face of the viewer and thedisplay.
 19. A computer-implemented method for adjusting display formatin an electronic device, the method comprising: providing a display, areceiving module, a distance measurement module, a visual conditiondetermination module, a display format determination module, a displaycontrol module, receiving content for display in a first display formatby the receiving module; measuring a first distance between a viewer andthe display by the distance measurement module; determining a visualcondition of a viewer by the visual condition determination module;determining a second display format based on the first display formatand the visual condition of the viewer by the display formatdetermination module; displaying the content in the second displayformat on the display by the display control module; measuring a seconddistance between the viewer and the display by the distance measurementmodule; determining a third display format based on the second displayformat and a relation between the first distance and the second distanceby the display format determination module; and displaying the contentin the third display format on the display by the display controlmodule.
 20. The method of claim 19, further comprising: providing a facerecognition module; and recognizing face of the viewer by the facerecognition module, wherein the first distance and the second distanceare measured between the face of the viewer and the display.